The cheap fashion jewelry with sparkling gemstones you find in stores is almost all made from cubic zirconia. Although cubic zirconia has been naturally identified and mined, their concentration is very low, which means that a large proportion of cubic zirconia used in jewelry making is manufactured in laboratories. This also means that cubic zircon comes in various grades, some more expensive than others.
This article will walk you through everything you need to know about cubic zirconia gemstones used in jewelry making. Just like diamonds, cubic zirconia gemstones come in different grades and some are more expensive than others. Let’s get started!
About Cubic Zirconia
Cubic zirconia or CZ is an ideal example of conflict-free gemstones and is a great substitute for diamonds. Gala zircon and diamond have the same fire and sparkle, but you only need to get these effects from galan zircon at a fraction of the total cost of the diamond.
As mentioned above, natural CZ is rare, so CZ used in jewelry making is made in a lab, meaning it costs only a fraction of the total cost of a diamond. CZ is a synthetic version of the gemstone; They are laboratory-made crystal gemstones that are not only hard, colorless, but also flawless.
But what exactly is CZ? CZ is a mineral made from zirconia, a naturally occurring substance in nature. While zirconia is natural, it is also made in a laboratory and it stands out as this sparkling gemstone that exudes the fire and sparkle of a real diamond.
Therefore, for the untrained, cubic zircon can easily be mistaken for a natural diamond.
Cubic zirconia gemstones are not diamonds, but jewelers refer to them as imitation diamonds.
If you are looking for a cheaper diamond alternative, jewelry made from CZ will be ideal for you as they are completely colorless. That said, there are several differences between diamond and cubic zirconia. Although they have similar properties and are both tough substances, cubic zircon is softer than natural diamond. Unlike diamonds, cubic zircon is also not thermally conductive, and diamonds may exhibit some degree of thermal conductivity.
Regarding their weight difference, cubic zirconia, which is exactly the same size as a diamond, weighs much more than diamond; More specifically, CZ will weigh 1.7 times the weight of a diamond. Therefore, CZ is usually measured by the size of the gemstone rather than the carat weight of the gemstone.
Is the Mass of All Cubic Zirconia the Same?
As mentioned above, CZ jewelry has a different grading system than diamonds, and CZ gemstones are made differently and have different qualities to meet the needs of each person’s budget.
CZ gemstones are graded according to an A grading system. Therefore, when buying cubic zirconia jewelry and evaluating gemstones based on color, cut, clarity and carat weight, they are mostly graded according to the A grading system.
Like diamonds graded according to the 4Cs system, CZ gemstones are graded according to this system, as well as a different system called the A grading system, and there are 6 main categories used to grade CZ gemstones.
The six categories, from highest to lowest, are AAAAA grade cubic zircon, AAAA, AAA, AA and A grade cubic zircon. But we’ve listed 5 common grades of CZ that you can buy in the market!
AAA-cubic zirconia gemstones are the most common CZ gemstone standard on the market today and are commonly used for most CZ jewelry. So, if you are looking for the highest grade CZ jewelry on the market, we recommend buying AAAAAP-rated CZ jewelry.
Below, we will take a closer look at the different cubic zircons.
Types of Cubic Zirconia
1. Fangjing Zircon White Diamond 6A
Although there are different categories of CZ gemstones, diamond CZ is the highest grade form of CZ, specifically galar zircon 6A. This is a high quality galar zircon, very bright and flawless.
Its quality corresponds to the rough material used for the stone to ensure the highest quality and importance. The CZ Diamond 6A boasts high-precision cutting, and if you are looking for the best quality CZ, then this will be for you.
CZ Diamond 6A is of a standard unmatched by all other CZ diamond creations. Its specific characteristics include transparent to opaque clarity, a wide range of colors to choose from, a cubic system, and a hardness of 8.5. Its luster is adamantine; it has isotropic optical properties, a shell-like fracture, and a refractive index of 1.5. The CZ Diamond 6 is free of inclusions, transparent, and structurally perfect, and it has one of the brightest fires around.
When it is used in jewelry, anyone could confuse it with a diamond. It is also the only cubic zirconia set with precious metals such as platinum, gold and sterling silver.
2. Cubic Zirconia White AAAAA
This is also a high quality cubic zirconia that is categorized as a diamond imitation. It is one of the finest lab-created stones used in gemstone collecting and jewelry making. This imitation is very hard and flawless, AAAAA Cubic Zirconia is the finest quality cubic zirconia, crafted by the best stone cutters to give you a gemstone that looks just like a natural diamond.
These Cubic Zirconias are available in 5 main doped colors – pink, yellow/red/orange, green, purple and golden brown.AAAAA CZ has a Mohs hardness of 8.5, a refractive index of 2.088 to 2.176, has a shell-like fracture, and is very water resistant.
3. Cubic Zirconia White AAAA
These cubic zirconias also have a high hardness and VVZ clarity grade and are mainly brilliant cut. These stones are optically flawless, although you can also find them in vibrant colors with excellent sparkle and fire. They are also less expensive than 5A and 6A CZ gemstones and are also used in high-end inexpensive jewelry. aAAA gemstones have a refractive index of 2.17.
4. Cubic Zirconia White AAA
As mentioned above, this is the most common type of CZ used for cubic zirconia jewelry. It is as hard as other cubic zirconias, but less expensive, so most jewelers use it for fashion jewelry.
These cubic crystal zircons are highly heat resistant; they are optically flawless and colorless, which means they are perfect for most jewelry you want to wear. However, it can have some flaws, and most jewelers use this grade of CZ for their jewelry.
5. Cubic Zirconia White AA
This CZ is of lower quality, but jewelry made from these stones is cheaper and won’t cost a lot of money. These stones tend to contain a lot of inclusions and change color quickly after purchase.
6. Square Crystal Zircon White A
This is the lowest grade of CZ gemstone and the cheapest, not the most valuable. cz a has a hardness rating of 8. Jewelry is available in pink, red, orange, white, and yellow colors, with refractive indices ranging from 2.15 to 2.18.
7. Square Crystal Zircon White AB
White AB CZ are multi-colored coated CZ gemstones, usually found as loose stones and plated. They are elegant and add great style and grace to jewelry. However, they are not the most common type of square crystal zircon.
